Orlando International to Tri-Cities Airport MCO → TRI
486 nautical miles (560 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 354°, about 360° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:15 am EDT (05:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCO is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots; TRI is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 133 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words
Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 367 to 476 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 50 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 20 nm of the route.
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from MCO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 6 forecast points nearest it (MLB, JAX, SAV, CAE, GSP, TRI). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | +9 kt | 11 °C | 111 kt | 4 h 23 min | 2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 300° at 22 kt | +12 kt | 13 °C | 108 kt | 4 h 30 min | 2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 24 kt | +7 kt | 12 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 18 min | 2:31 am EDT (06:31 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 26 kt | +5 kt | 9 °C | 115 kt | 4 h 14 min | 2:27 am EDT (06:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 28 kt | +3 kt | 6 °C | 117 kt | 4 h 09 min | 2:22 am EDT (06:22 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 31 kt | −1 kt | 2 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 01 min | 2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 34 kt | −6 kt | -2 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 51 min | 2:04 am EDT (06:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 37 kt | −9 kt | -6 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 46 min | 1:59 am EDT (05:59 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 41 kt | −19 kt | -17 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 30 min | 1:43 am EDT (05:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 49 kt | −32 kt | -31 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 12 min | 1:25 am EDT (05:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 210° at 53 kt | −40 kt | -40 °C | 160 kt | 3 h 02 min | 1:15 am EDT (05:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 210° at 53 kt | −40 kt | -52 °C | 160 kt | 3 h 02 min | 1:15 am EDT (05:15 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.
The forecast points as issued
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | used from 0 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 240/7 | 240/11 17° | 240/13 13° | 250/15 8° | 230/25 -5° | 210/25 -16° | 210/24 -31° | 190/29 -41° | 190/27 -53° |
| JAX | used from 50 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 280/14 | 300/22 16° | 260/27 15° | 260/26 9° | 240/41 -6° | 230/38 -16° | 220/44 -32° | 200/49 -41° | 200/52 -53° |
| SAV | used from 198 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 260/18 | 290/26 13° | 270/33 12° | 260/40 9° | 240/47 -5° | 230/53 -16° | 220/61 -31° | 210/64 -41° | 210/64 -52° |
| CAE | used from 298 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 260/27 | 310/26 11° | 280/31 9° | 270/36 7° | 250/39 -4° | 230/57 -16° | 220/74 -30° | 220/83 -40° | 220/73 -51° |
| GSP | used from 347 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 300/22 | 310/22 11° | 300/22 7° | 290/28 5° | 270/36 -5° | 250/42 -18° | 230/54 -31° | 230/59 -40° | 230/65 -50° |
| TRI | used from 447 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 310/28 11° | 320/32 7° | 330/30 2° | 300/28 -9° | 280/34 -21° | 250/37 -31° | 240/39 -38° | 250/35 -48° |
The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCO Orlando, FL | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 96 ft | 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC) |
| SFB Orlando, FL | 20 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 54 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| SGJ St Augustine, FL | 89 nm out, 9 nm east of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 9 ft | 01:56 UTC |
| CRG Jacksonville, FL | 119 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 40 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| JES Jesup, GA | 189 nm out, 9 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 107 ft | 22:20 UTC |
| LHW Fort Stewart (Hinesville), GA | 208 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 01:55 UTC |
| BXG Waynesboro, GA | 278 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | no report just now | 308 ft | ||||
| AGS Augusta, GA | 298 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 145 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| GSP Greer, SC | 387 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 963 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 427 nm out, 14 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 1,518 ft | 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TRI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:15 am EDT (05:15 UTC)
Wind from the west at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for TRI
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, fog nearby, scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
The forecast for MCO, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3634 DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO, FL 11 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZJX
- 6/8298 Daytona Beach, FL, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 50 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZJX
- 6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, 109 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at MCO 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC), at TRI 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm EDT (23:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at TRI is before sunrise there (7:33 am EDT (11:33 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Orlando International, Tri-Cities Airport.